Puzzle or toy.



W. J. P. OLSEN.

' PUZZLE 03 TOY.

APPLICATION rum) APR. 8, 1911.

1,004,680. Patented Oct. 3, 1911.

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PUZZLE OR TOY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALDEMAR J ENS PETER OLSEN, a subject of the King ofDenmark, (having made my first declaration of becoming a citizen of theUnited States,) residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and Stateof New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Puzzles orToys, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

My invention relates to puzzles or toys which require prescribedmanipulation and peculiar arrangement of the parts in order toaccomplish a certain feat. Its object is to construct an ovoid oregg-shaped object in such manner that its interior parts are secretedfrom view, and which, by turning the egg in various positions until itsbalanceweight is disposed in alinement with its major axis, the egg maybe caused to stand upon one end. This I accomplish by the means and inthe manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointedout in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is central vertical section of my invention showing the eggstanding upon one end with the center of gravity in alinement with itsmajor axis. Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal section thereof taken online 22, Fig. 1, showing one arrangement of the maze-plate or circuitouspath for throwing the parts out of balance. Fig. 3 is a detail view insection of the balance-weight used in connection with this device. Fig.1 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of one modified construction.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents the shell or casing that housesthe various mechanical parts of the puzzle, and which is preferably madeof thin metal such as aluminum or of celluloid or similar material thatis preferably non-transparent. This casing is substantially ovoid oregg-shaped, one end being tapered and having an apex and the other orbutt-end being rounded. A flattened portion or seat 2 of comparativelysmall area is made on the butt end of the shell in alinement with themajor axis of said casing, and upon which the same is adapted to standwhen the balance-weight is in proper position in the interior of theshell.

The interior of the shell or casing is preferably divided into twocompartments or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 8, 1911.

Patented Oct. 3, 1911. Serial No. 619,681.

sections by a transverse 'concavo-concave partition or plate 3. Thisplate is curved to an arc struck from the apex or point of the shell andits upper surface is provided with a plurality of concentricallyarranged channels 1 communicating with each other at their ends. Thesechannels are formed by several concentrically arranged walls or ribs 5that are inclined outwardly and are provided with cross-webs or stops 6at suitable intervals so that a circuitous path is formed from the otheredge of plate 3 inward to a central open space that is in alinement withthe major axis of the shell. The weight for balancing and unbalancingthe egg is adapted to move around through this path until it comes torest in the central open space in which position the egg will standupright when the flattened portion is placed upon a smooth and levelsurface.

The balancing-weight which I have shown in Fig. 1 of the drawingscomprises a solid metal ball 7 of suitable dimensions mounted on thelower end of a pendulum or link 8 which latter is connected to the apexor point of the shell by universal joint 9 at its upper end to permit ofthe free movement of the same in every direction. In order to secure thependulum to the weight a suitable channel 10 is cut radially through theweight and the lower end of the pendulum tapped therein. The oppositeend of said channel is reduced in diameter and forms a shoulder 11through which the shank of a plunger or pawl 12 is inserted and which iskept nor-- mally pressed outwardly by a coiled expansion spring 18interposed between the end of the pendulum and the head of said plunger.The outer end of said plunger is preferably rounded or tapered so thatthe same will easily ride over the ribs when moving in an outwarddirection and thus less resistance will be offered when the weight isthrown out of plumb. If desired, in order to reduce the noise caused bythe pendulous weight striking against the interior of the shell asuitable rubber cushion or belt 1 1 may be seated in a groove or recessin the same, as shown.

When the ball is in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, thepuzzle or toy is in perfect balance as the center of gravity is disposedaxially through the same, and by carefully placing the same so that theflattened portion 2 rests upon a smooth and level surface it will standupon its end,

WVhen, however, it is given a sudden lateral movement the weight willswing on the pendulum so that the lower end of the plunger will snapsuccessively over the walls 5 thus disturbing the center of gravity tosuch an extent that the egg will be out of balance and will not stand onits end. Upon tilting the egg so that the weight will be guided by theplunger through the path until the central open space is reached, asindicated by the arrows in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will again becomebalanced.

In the modification shown in Fig. l of the drawings, the shell or casing20 is preferably made of glass or other transparent material having aflattened portion 21 on the same end as in the preferred form. Asuitable concentric gutter 22 is formed adjacent the inner surface ofthe shell or casing preferably on the upper surface of a transaxialpartition 23. The central portion of the partition is preferablyprovided with a raised platform or embossment 2% in the upper surface ofwhich is a suitable depressed or concave seat 25. The ball 26 in thisinstance is a free ball ;that is, it is unsecured to any portion of theshell or casing, and in order to balance the egg it is necessary to jumpthe same from the gutter into the seat as suggested by the dotted arrows27. This can be accomplished on account of the shell being transparentso that the movement of the ball may be seen, and as soon as the samehas been placed in its seat 25 the center of gravity will be axiallydisposed and the egg will stand upon its flattened end portion 21.

lVhile I have shown and described but two forms in which my inventionmay be carried out, it is of course obvious that many otherconstructions are possible in which the principle here employed isinvolved. All

such modifications, carrying out the idea of balancing the weight orcenter of gravity to one side of the axial center of the shell or casingfor the purpose of preventing the standing of the egg, and of returningthe weight to the axial center of the egg to permit it to stand on itsend I desire to have included within the scope of my claims.

\Vhat I claim as new is:

1. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened portion on oneend, and an anchored weight within said shell the centering of whichbalances said shell upon its flattened end.

2. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened portion on oneend, an anchored weight within said shell the centering of whichbalances said shell upon its flattened end, and means that normally prevent the centering of said weight.

3. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened portion on oneend, a runway interposed between the ends of said shell, and an anchoredweight guided by said runway, the centering of which balances said shellupon its flattened end.

l. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened portion on oneend, a runway interposed between the ends of said shell, an anchoredweight guided by said runway, the centering of which balances said shellupon its flattened end, and means that normally prevent the centering ofsaid weight.

5. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened portion on oneend, a transaxial partition disposed mediate the ends of said shell andhaving a central restricted area, and an anchored weight within saidshell adapted to be placed in said area and balance the shell on itsflattened end.

(3. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened portion on oneend, a transaxial partition disposed mediate the ends of said shell andhaving a central restricted area, an anchored weight within said shelladapted to be placed in said area and balance the shell on its flattenedend, and means that normally prevent the placing of said weight in saidarea.

7. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened port-ion on oneend, a partition mediate the ends of said shell having a circuitous paththereon leading from its outer edge to the axial center of said shell,and an anchored weight within said shell that normally travels in saidpath and when centered is adapted to balance said shell on its flattenedportion.

8. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened portion on oneend, a transaxial partition disposed mediate the ends of said shell andhaving a central restricted area, a weight connected to one end of saidshell, the placing of which in said area balances said shell, and meansthat normally prevent the seating of said weight.

9. A puzzle comprising a hollow closed shell of substantial ovoid shapeand having a flattened portion on one end, a central area arrangedtransverse to the axis of said shell, a channel between said area andshell, and a ball normally guided by said channel and adapted to bemoved to said area and balance said shell on its flattened portion, saidball capable of movement transverse to said channel.

10. A puzzle comprising a hollow closed shell of substantial ovoid shapeand having a flattened portion on one end, a central area arrangedtransverse to the axis of said shell, a channel between said area andshell, and a pendulous ball disposed in said channel and adapted to bemoved to said area and balance said shell on its flattened portion.

11. A puzzle comprising a hollow closed shell of substantial ovoid shapeand having a flattened portion on one end, a central area arrangedtransverse to the axis of said shell, a series of concentric connectedchannels be tween said area and shell, and an anchored ball guided insaid channels and adapted to be moved to said area and balance saidshellon its flattened portion.

12. A puzzle comprising a hollow closed shell of substantial ovoid shapeand having a flattened portion on one end, a central area arrangedtransverse to the axis of said shell, a series of concentric connectedchannels between said area and shell, and a ball pendent from the apexof said shell and guided in said channels and adapted to be moved tosaid area and balance said shell on its flattened portion.

13. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened portion on oneend, a transverse platform intermediate the end of said shell, a centralrestricted area, on said platform, a concentric runway surrounding saidarea, a weight guided by said runway the seating of which balances saidshell on its flattened end, and means normally preventing the seating ofsaid weight, said weight being capable of movement transverse to saidpathway.

14. A puzzle comprising a closed shell having a flattened portion on oneend, a platform, a central restricted area thereon, concentric connectedchannels surrounding said area, and a movable body guided by saidchannels the seating of which balances said shell on its flattened end,said body capable of movement in a direction transverse to said channelswhen moving away from said area.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of April A.D. 1911.

WALDEMAR JENS PETER OLSEN.

Witnesses T. H. PENISTON, E. C. WILLIAMS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G.

